This product is the mature fruit of the deciduous tree Ziziphus jujuba (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) from the Rhamnaceae family. It is mainly produced in Hebei, Henan, Shandong, and Shaanxi. The fruits are harvested in autumn when they mature and then dried in the sun. It is used in its raw form.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet, warm. Act on spleen and stomach meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Tonifying middle and replenishing qi, nourishing blood and tranquilizing spirit, mild medicinal property.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for spleen deficiency with reduced appetite and loose stool, fatigue and lack of strength. It can tonify the middle and replenish qi. It is often combined with Tangshen, White Atractylodes Rhizome, etc., to enhance efficacy.
2. Used for blood deficiency with a shallow yellow complexion and women's visceral agitation and mental restlessness. It can nourish blood and tranquilize the spirit. For blood deficiency with a shallow yellow complexion, it is often combined with Prepared Rehmannia Root, Donkey-hide Gelatin, etc.; for visceral agitation and mental restlessness, it is often combined with Liquorice Root, wheat to nourish the heart and calm the spirit, such as Licorice, Wheat and Jujube Decoction.
3. Used in formulas with more drastic medicinal properties, it can reduce the side effects of harsh medicinals and protect healthy qi. For example, Ten Jujubes Decoction, which is used to alleviate the drastic purgation and toxicity of Gansui Root, Peking Euphorbia Root, Lilac Daphne, and protect the spleen and stomach.
4. In addition, it is often combined with Fresh Ginger Rhizome, added to exterior-releasing formulas to harmonize the nutrient and defensive aspects; added to tonifying formulas to regulate and tonify the spleen and stomach, both of which can enhance efficacy. Recent reports indicate its effectiveness in treating allergic purpura.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Calms the center and nourishes the spirit, assists the twelve meridians, ... replenishes the shortage of qi, insufficient body fluids, great fright, heavy limbs, and harmonizes all medicines."
2. 《Yongyao Faxiang》: "Regulates the nutritive and defensive qi, generates body fluids."
3. Bencao Gangmu: "According to Wang Hao-gu, those with fullness in the center should not eat sweet foods, as sweetness causes fullness. Therefore, Zhang Zhong-jing's Jianzhong Tang for those with stuffiness reduces malt and jujube, following the same principle as Liquorice Root. This is the method of using jujube."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Crush and decoct for oral use, 10-30g; or remove the skin and pit, mash into a paste, and form into pills for oral administration.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Chinese dates contain protein, sugars, organic acids, mucilage, vitamins C and P, trace amounts of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and various amino acids. They can enhance the phagocytic function of the mononuclear-phagocyte system, protect the liver, increase muscle strength, and promote weight gain.